Improvement in apparatus for generating hydrocarbon



28h Sh Y. w. n: Rosemaeets -W .Improvement in Apparatus'for Generating Hydrocarbon Vapor. No. 114,603, Paxented May on?, 187i.

- 2`Sheets-Sheet2. W. B. ROBERTS.

lmproyemenin Apparatus for Generating Hydrolarbon Vapor. No. 114,603.. Patented M ay9,1811.

@W- W l y MW OFFICE?e YVILLIAM It. ROERTS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR GENERATING- I-IYDROCARBON VAPOR.

` bon-Vapor Generators, ot' which the following is a specification.`

My invention relates to that class of vaporgeuerators in which a liquid hydrocarbon,

such as petroleum, for instance, is exposed to the action ot' superheated steam, the vapor thus produced being used t'or lighting or heat` 1n g purposes.

The object of the iirst part otl my invention is automatically to l'eed the hydrocarbon to the generator; and the improvement, to this end, consists, tirst,in combining with the injection-pump mechanism to automatically torce out the plunger, and to force it in again, so the injector may quickly be filled with oil, which is gradually and gently supplied to the generator in regulated quantities; second, my improvement further consists in operating the injection-pump by the waste steam from the generator by means-ot' the automatic apparatus hereinbeiore specified.

The next part ot' my invention relates to the injection-pump. Its object is to heat the oil before forcing it into the generator; to which end the improvement consists, third, in combining with the oil-pump or injector a steamjacket, which envelops it, and through which jacket steam is conveyed to the injectionpump from the generator.

The next part of my invention relates to the generator and receiver; and the improvement consists, fourth, in combining the ottices of both the generator and receiver heretofore employed in a single column or chamber without vertical tubes, or an oil-reservoir, thus simplifying the cost, construction, and etticiency of the apparatus; tif'th, my invention further consists in combining with the generator a heating-chamber separated4 from it by a diaphragm or dome of thin sheet metal ot' high conducting power, into which chamber superheated steam is admitted, and from which the waste steam may be conducted to the injection-pump and injector, either or both; sixth, my improvement further consists Specification ff-)Voting part Qf Letters Patent No. 114,603, dated Muy 9, 1871.

in combining with the generator a perforated oil-supply pipe, which deposits oil on the diaphragm above mentioned to be vaporized; seventh, my invention further consists in combining with the oil-supply pipe in the generator a'stcam-jet pipe, through which superheated steam is injected upon the diaphragm to mingle with the vapor evolved from the hydrocarbon, and to prevent any deposit of solid carbon upon the diaphragm eighth, my invention further consists in combining the injection-pump, oil-pump, or injector and generator, substantially as hereinafter set forth ninth, my invention further consists in combining theinjection-pump, injector, oil-supply pipe, steam-jet generator, heating-chamber, and its steam-pipes, substantially as hereinbei'orc set forth.

The accompanying drawing shows all my improvements embodied in one apparatus, the details oteonstruction of which obviously ma y be varied in various well-known ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Some parts ot' my improved apparatus may be used wit-hout the others, and may likewise be adapted to other apparatus of different construction t'rom that showin Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of so much ot' my improved apparatus as is necessary to illustrate the invention herein claimed. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal centi-ral section through the same. Fig. 3 represents the details ot' the automatic cut-oit which operates the valve of the Vinjection-pump.

A steamtight cylinder, A, is provided with a plunger, a, pin-jointed to a lever, B, pivoted at b to some iixed part of the frame-work ot' the apparatus or building. The lever is provided with a weight, B', for a purpose hereina'ter described. A pitman, C, is pin-jointed at one end to this lever B, and at the other to thel head of a plunger, C', working through a tight stuting-box in a cylinder, D, which l call the injector. Oil or petroleum is conveyed from a suitable tank, E, located in any proper place, to this injector, through apipe, e. The injector is surrounded by a jacket, D ,forming an annular steam-space, d, for a purpose hereinafter described. A steam -pipe, d', leads from the steam-space d to a two-way cock or valve, a, through which steam is conveyed to the cylinder A. The details ofthe mechanism this ratchet is released by the pawl, the spring l turns the two-way cock, so as to cut oft the steam and open the eXitport 2. The steam then escapes from the cylinder A, and the plunger descends to its normal'position. In its descent, a toe,f2, on the link strikes a pin, 3, on the ratchet-wheel F', and opens the valve again, when the operation above described is repeated. It is obvious that other and wellknown forms ot' cut-ot'ts might be adapted to working this plunger. As the lever B rises, the plunger C is lifted, and oil is drawn from the tank into the injector D.

In order to simplify the construction of the apparatus, I by preference construct the ge'nerator of a simple cylinder, G, and bolt a simi- 4lar receiver, G, directly upon it.

The dome or upper end of the receiver is provided with a wire-gauze diaphragm, g, forming a chamber, g2, to contain broken pumice-stone, or other porous substance, to prevent the puffing or pulsation of the vapor as it escapes from the receiver. A pipe, g1, leads from the receiver to the point where the vapor is to-be used. Thelower part of the generator is closed by a diaphragm, h, of thin sheet metal, by preference of copper, clamped between the dan ges ot' the generator and the head H, so as to form both a partition and a packing between the joint ofthe head and generator.` A pipe, I, conducts superheated steam from a suitable furnace or superheater to the steam-chamber h. This superheater need not be described here, as it forms no part ot' the subject-matter herein claimed, and is well known in its various forms of construction to skilled engineers. This pipe I is provided with suitable valves and cock-stops. One branch, i, of it'enters the heating-chamber h', as above mentioned, while another branch, fi, enters the generator above the diaphragm h, passes around it, and is perforated with numerous small holes on its under side to direct minute jets of superheated steam down upon the diaphragm. A pipe, J, conducts steam from the chainber'h to the annular chamber D surrounding the injector, and a pipe, d', conducts steam from this annular chamber to the cylinder A, as above described. A pipe, K, leads from the injector to a pipe, k, encircling the interior of the generator, and slotted on its inner side, so as to allow the oil to drip from it.

The operation of my improved apparatus will readily be understood from the foregoing description.

To beginfthe operation, the superheated steam is turned on to heat the various parts of the mechanism, proper outlets being pro vided for condensed steam to escape, which outlets are not shown, being of obvious construction. f

When steam is admitted tothe cylinder A its plunger rises and lifts the plunger C of the injector at regulated intervals by the automatic devices hereinbefore described, thus drawing oil from the tank into the injector.

When the steam is eut off from this cylinder A, the counter-balance B gradually forces down the plunger C', and drives the oil from the injector D through the pipe K into the generator, where it drips down upon the heated diaphragm h and is vaporized, being minglcd with steam from the jet-pipe i.

I thus by my invention secure a simple, cheap, and eticientl apparatus, which flashes thepetroleum into vapor in an unobstructed chamber, into which it is gradually fed in a continuous stream as rapidly as may be necessary, but only exposes so much of the petroleum at a time as may actually be required to the intense heat ot the' generator.

I also mingle the steam and vapor in regulated proportions in the act of generating it, instead ot' mingling it in the receiver after being generated, or of boilingv the vapor in a tubular generator, which may, under some circumstances, become clogged.

In my apparatus the generation ot' vapor is instantly stopped by cutting oft' the supply, which cannot be done in a tubular generator containing a large quantity ot' the oil.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a hydrocarbon-vapor generator, of the plunger of the injector with the injection-pump, and its automatic mechanism, or its equivalent, so as quickly to lift the plunger to iill the injector, and gradually to force the oil into the generator, these members being constructed to operate in combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination, in a hydrocarbon-vapor generator, of the injector, its surrounding steam-chamber, the injection-pump, its automatic mechanism, and the steam-pipe leading from the steam-chamber to the injection pump, all these members being constructed to operate in combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, to operate the injector by its own waste steam.

3. The combination, in a hydrocarbon-vaother, without vertical tubes or an oil-reser- Voir.

5. The combination, in a hydrocarbonvapor generator, of the steam-ch amber, its steampipes, the diaphragm, and the generator, all these members being constructed to operate in combination, substantially as hereinbe'ore set forth, so as to heat both the generator and injector.

6. The combination of the generator, its diaphragm, and the slotted oil-supply pipe encircling the interior of the generator, these members being constructed to operate in combination, substantially as described, to inject oil upon the heated diaphragm.

7. The combination of the generator, its diaphragm, the oil-supply pipe, and the steanr jet pipe, all these members being constructed to operate in combination, substantially as hereinbef'ore set forth.

'8. The combination of the injection-pump,

WILLIAM R. ROBERTS.

Witnesses WM. B. DAYTON, WM. E. MORGAN. 

